Sophia Loren set for big screen return

Italian movie icon Sophia Loren is returning to the big screen for her first starring role in nine years.

The 78-year-old actress has reportedly signed on to lead the cast in her son Edoardo Ponti’s film “The Human Voice,” which is based on a one-woman play written by French poet and artist Jean Cocteau.

Ponti’s film adaptation will be set in Italy and shooting on the project is expected to begin later this month.

Loren, who previously appeared in her son’s 2002 feature film debut Between Strangers, has not had a major big screen part since 2004 comedy Too Much Romance… It’s Time For Stuffed Peppers, although she went on to land a small role in Rob Marshall’s movie musical Nine in 2009 and in biographical TV film My House is Full of Mirrors in 2010.